When HR Gets Sick

As HR professionals, we have been screaming from the rooftops how important it is for the business to protect itself from a crisis. Training managers to have a crisis plan is a great idea. However, we all know who the managers call on when the real crisis occurs...HR. So, what happens when the HR department gets sick? Managers should be able to perform with confidence during a crisis when HR is not around. Providing managers and supervisors with explicit instructions and steps to take during the crisis is crucial. However, this involves more than information put to paper. Managers must own the procedures that they must follow during a crisis and be able to practice them with confidence. It is our responsibility as HR professionals to make sure that the key players outside of HR in our organization are equipped and prepared in HR's complete absence. Let's face it, HR people get sick too.